While he exagerates with the in the kicking, I'd rather have this commentator or the french top14 ones than the boring, and sometimes annoyingly bias english ones. There's a welsh that isn't all bad too, but generally english and south african commentary is dismal. No emotion and a grunt-fest from start to finish

This is what I dont get. Wales are just on a rampage in the international scene with loads of potential, but clubwise they never seem to follow that up. Yet, by this game, we can see they have it in them. It's not common for munster to loose in a semi, let alone have 40 points put through them in the process. Granted, munster started without ROG, etc. but towards the end they were on the field and the thrashing went on.

So the question? remains, why arent we witnessing more welsh teams getting past the groups at top flight european rugby?

We need to focus on what matters here. Stop picking on tackles that seem fine to everybody and pinging them with bans and focus on dirty play. That was unnecessary, illegal, really dangerous (he was lucky this time, a shoulder to the face can break bones) and AFTER the whistle. Don't tell me he wanted to clear the ruck, he came sideways and dropped his shoulder and still acomplished nothing. He has a reputation of a bit of dangerous tackling (i.e. shoulder tackles and high tackles) so give him the max ban in the cathegory. And leave honest tackles (the ones who arent dangerous but you blow out of proportion because the feet passed the horizontal) alone!

One of these days we won't be able to make a legal tackle, yet this type of foul play gets lightly punished

Oh dear, seems like du Plessis will have to hand in is Front Row Union card. Looks like my granny when she's mad!

Also, appart from te Blues, the biggest super rugby disappointment this decade, what is going on in new zealand? Every team is coming out swinging, with loads of new talent. Taylor, Perenara, Kerr-Barlow, Lam, Tameifuna, Anscombe, Barret, Savea, Lowrey, Retallick, Nanai-Williams, Todd, Manu, Sopoaga, Treeby, Poki... All young (some really young, others youngish) players that most teams in the world would gladly welcome

So, you pretty much agree with me everywhere. Good to know, as I havent followed the 6N as well as I wanted this year. Couldnt catch all the games.

In the n10 jersey I'd have to agree. Take Sexton as your starter and bring Farrel along so he gains a bit of experience and maturity at test level.

Well, while being "neutral" as a spectator (Im from Portugal), I have a bit of a bias for Wales and NZ. I think that Jonathan Davies is a HUGELY underrated player. It's hard to look past his bulk and strong runs, but he is actually quite an intelligent player. He often gets the pass away to the wings or to put Roberts into the gap. Hes not a magician, like Drico was (even though I think ODriscol is fading. Nobody deserves to be as good as he was forever), but is competent enough. The problem lies that in a Lions tour you want more than competent, and there just doesn't seem to be a 13 that is solid and not a bruiser. I'd give the world to get Conrad Smith to tour.

As for n8, I'd like to see Heaslip coming to form, allways rated him, but he seems to be running at half steam for years now. Both in Ireland and Leinster he seems to fade when compared to his flankers workrate and commitment, and hasn't won the fisical match with his opposite number often (he's always been the small and mobile type). And Radike Samo, probably good for another year, is no slouch.

Now I think of it, don'tthink I agree with you on George North being THE best winger in the world, atm. One of the best, surelly, but Hosea Gear, Cory Jane, Digby Ioane (yes, even if suspended) and, I never thought I'd say this, but the guy seems to be coming back to form, Bryan Habana seem to deserve being in the mix. Then you have Savea, Nanai-Williams, Kahui who are improving too. But North remains a beast and one that can surelly become THE best in the world. To think hes 19!

Also, whatare your thoughts on a lions Starting XV? I know it seems easy to pull an almost full welsh squad, but try.

Hurray, managed to only include 9 to 11 Welsh in the lineup. Sorry, but they are just fantastic at the moment and are the only Team at the moment to have what the Lions really need, their biggest weakness: Conditioning and Teamplay. It just seems easier to fit the standouts from the other teams in a core that is performing incredibly, considering the limited time the Lions have to gel

Dave, I think Richie Gray must be a shoe in for n4. Also think one Mr Rob Kearney will feel hard done not to be included in you "must" list.

The most exciting thing now will be the battle of the 10s. Sexton, Priestland, Farrel... Even that midget from Scotland who managed to inject some pace and X Factor in a team that is, at times, very one dimentional on offense